Rapid release mold

ABSTRACT

A rapid release mold for use in the compaction of metal powders into consolidated ingots which includes a pair of side walls connected together by means of a relatively rigid bottom buckle plate. The mold includes means associated with the upper portions of the side walls which are operative to slightly increase the separation of the side walls through slight flexure of the buckle plate to permit the unimpeded removal of a compacted ingot from the mold.

United @tates Patent 1 Livera 1 1 May 22, 1973 154] RAPID RELEASE MOLD 2,758,353 8/1956 Carlson et al. ..249 50 2,784,453 3/1957 Hjulion ..425/78 [75] inventor Bmmfield 3,010,174 11/1961 McCall ..249 50 [73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation, 3,023,477 3/1962 Smith et 9/ Pittsburgh, p 3,071,834 1 1963 Tinney ..249 50 3,583,035 6/1971 Miller .425/78 [22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1971 2 APPL 201 907 Primary ExaminerJ. Howard Flint, Jr.

Attorney-A. T. Stratton, W. D. Palmer and B. R.

d 52 US. (:1 ..425/78, 429/172 ebaker [51] Int. Cl. ..B30h 11/00 ABSTRACT [58] 0 Search 168, A pi release mold for use in the compaction f 429/169, 170, 171, 1 metal powders into consolidated ingots which includes a pair of side walls connected together by means of a [56] References Cited relatively rigid bottom buckle plate. The mold in- UNITED STATES PATENTS CiUdS means associated With the upper pOItiOl'lS Of the side walls which are operative to slightly increase the 801,249 10/1905 Keogy ..249/l70 X separation of the side walls through slight flexure of l the buckle plate to permit the unimpeded removal of a l609460 12/1926 Brinks compacted ingot from the mold. 2,482,342 9/1949 Hubbert et al. ..425/78- 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures RAPID RELEASE MOLD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to molds for use in the compaction of metal powders into consolidated ingots and more particularly to a rapid release mold for use in the compaction of powdered metal ingots.

In the past, molds used for the compaction of metal powders into elongated ingots, such as for example tungsten bars, had to be entirely disassembled in order to remove the compacted ingot from the mold. Direct removal of the ingot from the mold was impossible due to the relatively fragile nature of the compacted ingot and the lateral pressure exerted by the compacted metal powder on the side walls as a result of the compaction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The rapid release mold of this invention, for use in the compaction of metal powders into consolidated ingots, comprises a pair of parallel side bars laterally spaced from each other a distance equivalent to the width of the ingot to be compacted. These side bars define the side walls for the mold cavity. A relatively rigid buckle plate is secured to the underside of each of the side bars and spans the space between the side bars at the bottom thereof. An ingot support bar lies upon the buckle plate between the side bars and defines the bottom of the mold cavity. Upon compaction of powdered metal within the cavity, separating means associated with one of the side bars is projected into the cavity above the compacted ingot and reacts directly or indirectly with the other side wall to cause the buckle plate to flex slightly about its center and move the side walls slightly away from each other to permit the unhindered removal of the ingot support bar and ingot from the cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The attendant advantages of the rapid release mold of this invention will become more readily apparent and better understood as the following detailed description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the mold form of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1 illustrating the compaction of a powdered ingot within the mold;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1 illustrating the mechanism for removal of an ingot from the mold form of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the removal of an ingot from the mold form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawing wherein a like reference character represents like parts throughout the several views, there is illustrated in the drawing the rapid release mold of this invention, generally designated 10. The mold form 10, as illustrated, is situated on a base or supporting plate 12 of a rocking compactor mechanism and includes a pair of heavy steel side bars 14 and 16 which are secured together at a fixed distance from each other by means of a relatively rigid buckle plate 18. The buckle plate 18 is secured to the bottom or underside of the side bars 14 and 16 by a plurality of metal screws 20. The combination of the side bars 14 and 16 and the buckle plate 18 define generally the cavity in which the consolidated ingot is formed. The internal walls 15 of the side bars are maintained in a parallel configuration a fixed distance apart by the combination of the plurality of threaded screws 20 and the complementary configurations of the side edges of the buckle plate which includes parallel raised portions 22 and complementary recesses 24 in the bottom of the side bars 14 and 16. This structural arrangement eliminates the possibility of any relative sliding movement between the side bars and the buckle plate. The inner bottom edge of each of the side bars also includes a space or notch 26 of about 0.010 inch in height which extends between the interior bottom edge of the side bars and the buckle plate for a short distance. This 0.010 inch space or notch terminates in a seal cavity 28 which retains a rubber seal 30. The rubber seal 30 prevents powder from entering an opening which may result when the buckle plate 18 if flexed.

The side bar 16 includes a plurality of spaced jack screws 32 which are recessed in apertures 33 in the outside surface of side bar 16 and extend into a bore 34 which communicates with the interior face 15 of the side bar 16. These jack screws 32 could of course be replaced by hydraulic pistons and operated automatically as will be apparent as this description proceeds.

In operation, an ingot support bar 36 is placed in the bottom of the cavity defined by side walls 15 and the buckle plate 18. The ingot support bar has a dual purpose of supporting the ingot when the ingot is transferred from the'mold to the next operation and additionally it increases the distance between the ingot and the pivot point X of the buckle plate thereby reducing the amount of flexure required by the buckle plate to permit removal of the compressed ingot from the mold. With the ingot support bar in place, the mold cavity is filled with metal powders, as for example a non-free flowing powder such as tungsten. The filling of the mold cavity with metal powder may be performed by employing the Feeder for Non-Free Flowing Powders disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 201,908 filed the same date as this application by Phillip A. Livera and owned by the assignee of this application. With the powders in the cavity, a compactor blade 40 is then brought to bear on the metal powders to compact the metal powders into a consolidated ingot. The metal powders may be compacted by means of the Rocking Compactor disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 201,882, filed the same date as this application by Phillip A. Livera and owned by the assignee of this application. Upon compaction of the metal powders by the compactor blade 40, prior molds had to be completely disassembled to remove the compacted ingot from the mold form. In accordance with this invention, a spacer bar 42 is placed between the inner faces 15 of the side bars 14 and 16 proximate the jack screws 32. The jack screws 32, as illustrated in FIG. 3, are then rotated into the cavity against the spacer plate 42 causing the side walls 15 to move apart about the center or pivot point X of the buckle plate 18. A separation of only 0.002 to 0.004 inch at the ingot wall is sufficient to pull the ingot free. Such bending utilizes only a small portion of the elastic limit of the buckle plate material and therefor does not affect its normal position. Of course, the spacer bar 42 could be eliminated and the jack screws 32 could be designed to coact directly with the face of side wall 14 without departing from the scope of this invention but such construction would require more material and would most likely require more time to operate than the simple expedient of the spacer bar 42.

The side bars 14 and 16 of course serve the purpose of containing the powder and/or ingot and remain rigid throughout the various compacting cycles. Prior to the pressing, the inside surfaces 15 of the side bars are leaning slightly inwardly and account for the tight fit on the pressing blade. During the pressing cycle a vertical component of force maintains a straight buckle plate and prevents a lateral component from separating the side bars. There is, however, some movement of the side bars and this is rarely sufficient to release the tight grip on the blade. Directly after the pressing operation, the vertical component is removed from the buckle plate and it is theorized that any forces or strains within the ingot are exerted against the buckle plate causing it to bend slightly. As indicated previously, the spacer plate 42 is placed between the two side bars and the jack screws are tightened. This causes the side bars to separate and the buckle plate to bend even further. A separation of between 0.002 and 0.004 inch at the ingot wall is sufficient to pull the walls free of the ingot. Since this bending utilizes only a small portion of the elastic limit of the buckle plate material it does not atfect the return of the buckle plate to its normal position or the repeated use of the buckle plate material. The 0.010 inch space or notch 26 in the side bars directly adjacent to the mold cavity prevents metal powder from lodging between the side bars and the buckle plate. The rubber seal 30 prevents the powder from going beyond that point to the area of the screws where the connection of the buckle plate to the side bars occurs and where there is little or no separation between the parts. The influx of metal powders to this area could distort the relationship of the parts.

As will be apparent the rapid release mold of this invention for use in the compaction of metal powders into consolidated ingots provides for the rapid release of the compacted ingot without the necessity of totally disassembling the mold to remove the delicate ingot from the mold cavity. The foregoing is accomplished by providing a pair of parallel side bars which are laterally spaced from each other a distance equivalent to the width of the ingot to be compacted and which are interconnected by a relatively rigid buckle plate secured to the underside of each of the parallel side bars. The rapid release mold further includes an ingot support bar which lies upon the buckle plate between the side bars and defines the bottom of the mold cavity. The support bar further facilitates the removal of the compacted ingot from the mold when means associated with one of the side bars is projected into the cavity above the compacted ingot and reacts directly or indirectly with the other side wall to cause the buckle plate to flex slightly about its center and move the side walls slightly away from each other.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, when the side walls have been moved slightly apart, by flexure of the buckle plate in response to movement of the jack screws 32 against the spacer bar 42, the ingot may be readily slid from the mold cavity on the ingot support bar 36.

What is claimed is:

l. A rapid release mold for use in the compaction of metal powders into consolidated ingots comprising:

a pair of parallel side bars laterally spaced from each other a distance equivalent to the width of the ingot to be compacted and defining side walls for the mold cavity;

a relatively rigid buckle plate;

means securing the buckle plate to the underside of each of said side bars, said buckle plate spaning the space between said side bars at the bottom thereof;

an ingot support bar lying on said buckle plate between said sidebars and defining the bottom of said mold cavity; and

means associated with one of said side bars and adapted to be projected into said cavity above a compacted ingot lying therein and coact with the other of said side walls to cause said buckle plate to flex slightly about its center and move said side walls slightly away from each other to permit the unhindered removal of said ingot support bar and said ingot from said cavity.

2. A rapid release mold according to claim 1 wherein said means associated with one of said side bars includes a plurality of jack screws mounted in apertures in said one side wall adapted to be threadably advanced into said cavity above said ingot toward said other side wall.

3. A rapid release mold according to claim 2 wherein a spacer bar is situated between said side bars above said ingot to coact with said jack screws as the latter are advanced toward said other side wall to thereby move said side walls slightly away from each other.

4. A rapid release mold according to claim 1 wherein said buckle plate includes a pair of parallel raised portions fitted into complementary slots in the bottom of said side bars and said means securing said buckle plate to said side bars is a plurality of screws.

5. A rapid release mold according to claim 4 wherein the portion of the bottom of said side bars nearest said cavity is spaced from said buckle plate and sealing means are located within those spaces in the portion thereof most remote from said cavity.

6. A rapid release mold for use in the compaction of metal powders into consolidated ingots, said rapid release mold comprising:

a pair of side walls,

a relatively rigid bottom buckle plate secured to the underside of each of said side walls; and

means associated with the upper portions of the side walls which is operative to slightly increase the separation of said side walls to permit the unimpeded removal of a compacted ingot from said mold.

7. A rapid release mold according to claim 6 wherein said means associated with said side bars include a plurality of jack screws mounted in apertures in one side wall adapted to be threadably advanced into said cavity above said ingot toward the other of said sidewalls.

8. A rapid release mold according to claim 7 wherein a spacer bar is situated between said sidewalls above said ingot to coact with said jack screws as the latter are advanced toward the other side wall to thereby move said side walls slightly away from each other.

9. A rapid release mold according to claim 6 wherein said buckle plate includes a pair of parallel raised portions fitted into complementary slots in the bottom of said sidewalls and said means securing said buckle plate to said sidewalls is a plurality of screws.

10. A rapid release mold according to claim 9 wherein the portion of the bottom of said sidewalls nearest said cavity is spaced from said buckle plate and sealing means are located within those spaces in the portion thereof most remote from said cavity. 

1. A rapid release mold for use in the compaction of metal powders into consolidated ingots comprising: a pair of parallel side bars laterally spaced from each other a distance equivalent to the width of the ingot to be compacted and defining side walls for the mold cavity; a relatively rigid buckle plate; means securing the buckle plate to the underside of each of said side bars, said buckle plate spaning the space between said side bars at the bottom thereof; an ingot supPort bar lying on said buckle plate between said side bars and defining the bottom of said mold cavity; and means associated with one of said side bars and adapted to be projected into said cavity above a compacted ingot lying therein and coact with the other of said side walls to cause said buckle plate to flex slightly about its center and move said side walls slightly away from each other to permit the unhindered removal of said ingot support bar and said ingot from said cavity.
 2. A rapid release mold according to claim 1 wherein said means associated with one of said side bars includes a plurality of jack screws mounted in apertures in said one side wall adapted to be threadably advanced into said cavity above said ingot toward said other sidewall.
 3. A rapid release mold according to claim 2 wherein a spacer bar is situated between said side bars above said ingot to coact with said jack screws as the latter are advanced toward said other side wall to thereby move said side walls slightly away from each other.
 4. A rapid release mold according to claim 1 wherein said buckle plate includes a pair of parallel raised portions fitted into complementary slots in the bottom of said side bars and said means securing said buckle plate to said side bars is a plurality of screws.
 5. A rapid release mold according to claim 4 wherein the portion of the bottom of said side bars nearest said cavity is spaced from said buckle plate and sealing means are located within those spaces in the portion thereof most remote from said cavity.
 6. A rapid release mold for use in the compaction of metal powders into consolidated ingots, said rapid release mold comprising: a pair of side walls, a relatively rigid bottom buckle plate secured to the underside of each of said side walls; and means associated with the upper portions of the side walls which is operative to slightly increase the separation of said side walls to permit the unimpeded removal of a compacted ingot from said mold.
 7. A rapid release mold according to claim 6 wherein said means associated with said side bars include a plurality of jack screws mounted in apertures in one side wall adapted to be threadably advanced into said cavity above said ingot toward the other of said sidewalls.
 8. A rapid release mold according to claim 7 wherein a spacer bar is situated between said sidewalls above said ingot to coact with said jack screws as the latter are advanced toward the other side wall to thereby move said side walls slightly away from each other.
 9. A rapid release mold according to claim 6 wherein said buckle plate includes a pair of parallel raised portions fitted into complementary slots in the bottom of said sidewalls and said means securing said buckle plate to said sidewalls is a plurality of screws.
 10. A rapid release mold according to claim 9 wherein the portion of the bottom of said sidewalls nearest said cavity is spaced from said buckle plate and sealing means are located within those spaces in the portion thereof most remote from said cavity. 